These medications shouldn't be used in people with kidney disease or heart problems.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors

Medications

Acarbose (Precose)

Miglitol (Glyset)

Action

Slow the breakdown of starches and some sugars

Advantages

Don't cause weight gain

Possible side effects

Stomach pain

Gas

Diarrhea

Sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors

Medications

Canagliflozin (Invokana)

Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)

Empagliflozin (Jardiance)

Action

Block glucose from being reabsorbed by the kidneys

Advantages

May promote weight loss and lower blood pressure

Possible side effects

Urinary tract infections; yeast infections

Bile acid sequestrants

Medications

Colesevelam (Welchol)

Action

Lower cholesterol and have a very modest effect in lowering blood glucose when used in combination with other diabetes medications

Advantages

Likely safe for people with liver problems

Possible side effects

Flatulence

Nausea

Constipation

Injectable medications

Amylin mimetics

Medications

Pramlintide (Symlin)

Action

Stimulate the release of insulin

Used with insulin injections

Advantages

May suppress hunger

May promote modest weight loss

Possible side effects

Hypoglycemia

Nausea or vomiting

Headache

Stomach pain

Incretin mimetics

Medications

Exenatide (Byetta)

Exenatide extended release (Bydureon)

Liraglutide (Victoza)

Action

Stimulate the release of insulin

Used with metformin and sulfonylurea

Advantages

May suppress hunger

May promote modest weight loss

One injection weekly for extended release

Possible side effects

Nausea or vomiting

Headache

Dizziness

Increased risk of inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) and some thyroid tumors

How to choose your diabetes medication

No single diabetes treatment is best for everyone, and what works for one person may not work for another. Your doctor can determine how a specific medication or how multiple medications may fit into your overall diabetes treatment plan and help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of specific diabetes drugs.

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